Usually referred to as one of the eight spectacles of Lanyang (蘭陽八景), Jiaoxi (礁溪) is home to a renowned hot spring. Extremely rich in sodium, magnesium, calcium, potassium, and carbonic acid ions, Jiaosi’s rare sodium bicarbonate hot spring is famous worldwide.

Please watch the following video about Jiaoxi in northern Taiwan:

Thanks to the completion of the Hsuehshan Tunnel, the world’s ninth longest road tunnel (8.042 miles or 12.942 kilometers long) that took 15 years to complete, Jiaoxi has become one of the most popular tourist destinations in Taiwan.

Since hot spring water is colloquially referred to as “soup (湯)” in Chinese, the finest mineral-rich hot spring in Jiaoxi is known as “Beautiful Lady Soup (美人湯).” Taking a dip in the hot spring in Jiaoxi is a soothing and relaxing experience that would make anyone feel beautiful.

In recent years, modern hotels and restaurants have sprung up across the small township located in Yilan County in northern Taiwan.

A number of distinctive hot spring foot soaking ponds (溫泉泡腳池) have also been built at the Tangweigou Hot Spring Park (湯圍溝溫泉公園) and Jiaoxi Hot Springs Park (礁溪溫泉公園). Visitors can relax and enjoy a soothing foot soaking in the open streams of hot spring water running through the parks.

With the installation of artwork and the open stream of hot spring water, Tangweigou Hot Spring Park is an interesting place to visit. (Image: Billy Shyu/Vision Times)

What’s even more interesting is the “Doctor Fish Foot Spas” (溫泉魚足浴), where visitors can soak their feet in fish ponds and let small golden fish clean their feet. The bites from the small fish don’t hurt, but just leave visitors’ feet with a slight tingling feeling. At a cost of only about US$2.5 per hour, it’s fun to try!

Artemis Garden (香草菲菲) is the first large botanical garden with the theme of ‘fragrance’ in Taiwan. (Image: Billy Shyu/Vision Times)

After enjoying the hot spring in Jiaoxi, another unforgettable experience is the nearby Artemis Garden (香草菲菲), which is the first large botanical garden in Taiwan with the theme of “fragrance.” The greenhouse, with various beautiful plants and flowers, is bright with natural light. Visitors can also enjoy a buffet lunch in the cozy ambiance.

The greenhouse with various beautiful plants and flowers are bright with natural light. (Image: Juliet Fu/Vision Times)

With an area of 26.9 acres (10.9 hectares), including an indoor space of 14.2 acres (5.8 hectares), Artemis Garden was established in 2012 by a private foundation. Aiming to introducing various kinds of natural and cultural information regarding fragrances to the public, the garden’s main building is often referred to as the “White House of Yilan” because it is pure white and made of steel, glass, and wood.

Popular in Interesting Places

Popular in Interesting Places

Top Authors in Interesting Places

Bound by a common conviction, the fates of a woman living in Beijing and a man living in New York become inextricably linked in a story of courage and freedom.

From the award-winning director of “Tibet: Beyond Fear”, Free China: The Courage to Believe, examines the widespread human rights violations in China through the remarkable and uplifting stories of Jennifer Zeng, a mother and former Communist Party member, and Dr. Charles Lee, a Chinese American businessman, who along with hundreds of thousands of peaceful citizens are imprisoned, tortured and even killed for their organs.

This timely documentary highlights the issue of unfair trade practices with the West and how Internet technologies and the re-emergence of traditional Chinese culture and spirituality are helping bring freedom to 1.3 billion people in China.

Top Authors in Interesting Places

About Vision Times

Vision Times tells the world everything about China in today's context. We keep a close eye on China because of its influence now and the lessons we can learn from its ancient past to better our lives today.